SASKATOON – Saskatchewan’s Carter Ashton, 24, is headed overseas to continue his professional hockey career. Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) announced Tuesday the right winger will be playing this upcoming season in Russia.
The Saskatoon product was selected in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He got his start with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2011-12 season and has played 54 games.
In November 2014, the Maple Leafs announced they had suspended Ashton for 20 games, without pay, for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
READ MORE: Leafs forward Ashton suspended 20 games for violating drug policy
In a statement at the time, Ashton said he used an inhaler twice in response to asthma attacks while preparing for the 2014-15 NHL season. As a result, he unknowingly ingested Clenbuterol, a prohibited substance.
“While I am extremely disappointed that I have let my teammates, our fans and the Maple Leafs organization down, I will work very hard during my suspension to stay in game shape so that I can help out the team when I am able to return,” said Ashton in his statement.
After the suspension, he returned to the Maple Leafs for seven games but was sent down to the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League (AHL).
In February, the Maple Leafs announced they had traded Ashton and David Broll to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2016.
Ashton finished the 2014-15 season with the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL.
He is a former member of the Saskatoon Contacts of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL).
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